Donald Trump is often annoyed by scientific data and computer models that process such information. Witness how easily he ignored NOAA’s predicted track for Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and drew his own trajectory for it on a map with a black marker. (His turned out to be wrong).
Now Trump is busy expunging the possibility of climate change and models predicting its impact from all aspects of government. The White House would prefer that we ignore emissions and pursue use of fossil fuels at will. He is even cancelling wind power projects that are near completion, under the grounds that they are ugly.
A few years ago, NASA launched a couple of satellites that were designed to monitor carbon dioxide emissions worldwide—a useful tool to validate global emissions reductions and treaties designed to stabilize our climate. The Orbiting Carbon Observatories (OCO satellites) have shown ancillary value in monitoring plant growth for farmers and large-scale crop yield for economists.
Beyond “defunding” these satellites, the administration is proposing to destroy the existing satellites. I suppose the thinking goes: if scientists can’t monitor carbon dioxide emissions and the rising concentrations of this gas in the atmosphere, perhaps they will quit squawking about climate change or will lose the basis for doing so.
These satellites are the equivalent of a ball game, and we all paid for them. Trump is seizing the opportunity to take the ball and go home. We should be enraged at this childish behavior.
See also this blog of 21 July 2025
Bill, thank you for this posting. I was moved to share it widely with friends and colleagues. I forwarded your blog with this added message:
Greetings,
Below you’ll find a short but informative and important posting by Dr. Bill Schlesinger – a college classmate with a long record of accomplishments in scientific research and writing at Cornell and Duke University, and the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. https://www.caryinstitute.org/science/our-scientists/dr-william-h-schlesinger
It’s very concerning and sad that the current US President has so little regard for science, facts, truth, and the public welfare, and is instead corrupted by and fully subservient to the fossil fuel industry. It’s one of many “childish” and short-sighted acts by DJT that will impact the world for many years, well beyond his term as President and well beyond the borders of the US.
Unfortunately, it’s not the first or only time the US Federal Government has failed to acknowledge facts, speak the truth and act responsibly to deal with climate change.
See the book published by Gus Speth – They Knew. https://www.amazon.com/They-Knew-Federal-Governments-Fifty-Year/dp/0262542986
As you may know, Gus is a distinguished lawyer, who founded the Natural Resource Defense Council, was the first Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality established by President Jimmy Carter, and the founder and first President of the World Resources Institute.
Many scientists and others have investigated what can be done to address the threats of climate change in ways that also contribute to sustainable economic development. We have learned a lot, both through research and practical experience, and many effective pathways and solutions have been known for more than a decade. And yet, efforts to apply them have stalled or been reversed by the actions of Trump and inactions of others. Eliminating USAID was not a step in the right direction.
https://www.caryinstitute.org/news-insights/media-coverage/want-save-planet-scientists-lay-out-20-natural-solutions-curb-climate
https://drawdown.org/
https://www.tropenbos.org/resources/etfrn-news-60-restoring-african-drylands/dryland-restoration-successes-in-the-sahel-and-greater-horn-of-africa-show-how-to-increase-scale-and-impact/
It’s important that others step up, speak out and take action to support many potential cost-effective and needed efforts, for the sake of our children and grand-children, as well as those currently suffering the ongoing, negative impacts of climate change and unsustainable development.
Bob
Thank you, Bill, for your clear and compelling perspective. I shared this with colleagues to help raise awareness.